ROBERT WALKER ADAMS.
Solomon Adams, born in Norwich, Connecticut, in 1790, came to Virginia
in 1810, served in the war of 1812, and died in Fredericksburg,
Virginia, in August, 1862. He married Frances Fernaghaugle, who was
born in Fredericksburg about the year 1800, and died in September,
1860. These were the parents of Robert Walker Adams, who was born
in Fredericksburg on the 31st of May, 1824. He has been twice married,
his first wife Ann Newby Williams, born in Fredericksburg, March,
1825, died in March, 1857. Two children of this marriage survive:
Anna T., now Mrs. Foster, and Samuel A., both of Fredericksburg, and
two daughters are deceased, Margaret F., died in infancy, and Camilla,
died aged about five years. Secondly Mr. Adams married, at Fredericksburg,
in June, 1859, Ann Thoroughgood Morriss of Fredericksburg.
Mr. and Mrs. Adams are members of the M. E. church (South) at Fredericksburg.
After a brief attendance at the schools of Fredericksburg the subject
of this sketch began his business life, in June, 1837, then only thirteen
years of age, as store boy in the commission house of Samuel Phillips &
Son, remaining with that firm as clerk and book-keeper until the death
of the senior partner in May, 1854. In June, 1855, he formed a co-partnership
with the junior member of the former firm, under the name and
style of A. K. Phillips & Co., which continued until June, 1859, when
Mr. Phillips retired. Mr. Seth B. French took his place, the firm becoming
Adams & French, and continuing the business of the former firms
until 1862. The war then brought this business to a close, as it ended
many another prosperous enterprise, and from 1862 to 1865 Mr.
Adams was engaged in the Commissary Department of the Confederate
States, serving as clerk in the office of the Commissary-General, in
Richmond, nearly three years, promoted to captain in 1863, and closing
his military career by surrendering at Lynchburg, Virginia, in April,
1865.
In May, 1865, Mr. Adams returned to Fredericksburg, and in July of
the same year again commenced the commission business, forming a
partnership with Mr. A. K. Phillips, under the firm name of A. K.
Phillips & Co., which firm still continues. In May, 1870, Mr. Adams
was elected to the office of city treasurer and is still serving, having
been re-elected at each subsequent election.
